Exploring the Art of Bookbinding: The Art of Japanese Bookbinding
Materials You'll Need:
- Sheets of paper for the pages
- Decorative paper for covers (washi paper is traditional) I created a hardcover for my personal project using chipboards. I covered the chipboards with leftover fabrics from a project I did years ago. I must confess, I have a tendency to collect things.
- Needle and thread
- Ruler and bone folder
Additional materials to include are cutting board, exacto knife, glue for bookbinding.
Steps to Create a Japanese Stab-Bound Book:
1. Prepare Your Pages: The number of pages is up to you, but ensure they fit comfortably within your cover. I am making 8 1/2” x 11” book.
2. Design Your Cover: Cut your decorative paper for the cover, ensuring it's larger than your pages. This paper will wrap around your folios, so choose a size that pleases you.
I started with the back cover. Whether you're using paper or fabric, make sure to leave a 1-inch allowance around the 8 1/2” x 11” chipboard (or whatever size you prefer to use). Glue down the sides securely. Next, cut a piece of paper (preferably cardstock to avoid the ripples caused by excessive glue) that is 1/4 inch narrower in both width and height. Afterward, cover both sides with wax paper and place it under a heavy stack to prevent the cover from warping.
Cut the chipboard for the front cover, making it 2 1/2 inches in width due to the fabric I'm using.
For the front binding piece, I used an applique fusible and an iron to adhere the fabric to the chipboard. If I had enough of that material, I would have used it instead of glue. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures, but I will provide links to all the materials I used below.
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2. Glue the support part down.
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4. Cut the paper for each piece, trimming 1/4 inch from the height and width, and then slice at the hinge.
Finished front cover.
Wrap in wax paper and place it under a heavy stack to prevent the cover from warping when drying.
3. Pierce Holes: Use a template or ruler to mark where you want your binding holes to be. The placement of holes varies depending on the pattern you choose.
Make a template. Fold the paper in half 3 times.
For our binding place it in the center of the front binding piece. Green marks is the template for this book.
Use an awl to punch the holes. You can separate them into stacks and or use a drill to drill the holes.
4. Bind the Book: Thread a needle with your chosen thread and begin stitching your sections together. Popular Japanese binding patterns include the four-hole, tortoise shell, and noble binding styles.
Start inside the book and leave about a 6” tail to be tied at the end of sewing. Sew to the front of the book at the 2nd hole from the top.
2. Once you pull the thread through loop it around the book.
3. Sew the next hole down.
4. Sew a loop through the 3rd hole down from the top.
5. From the back of the book, sew into the bottom hole.
6. Sew a loop around the last hole.
7. Sew a loop around the bottom of the book into the bottom hole.
8. Sew back up to the top hole.
9. Use pliers or a can opener gripper to help pull the needle through.
10. Continue to the top hole.
11. At the top hole, loop around the book.
12. Loop around the top of the book and sew into the top hole.
13. Sew back to where you started.
14. Fish out the end to double knot the ends together and clip off the long tails. Easier to do with paper covers than hard covers.
5. Trim and Finish: Once your book is bound, trim any excess thread, and your Japanese-stab bound book is complete.
Exploring More Styles
Japanese binding is just the tip of the iceberg in the world of bookbinding. As you delve deeper into this craft, you'll discover countless other styles like long-stitch, accordion-fold, and saddle-stitch, each with its unique appeal and purpose.
Bookbinding offers an opportunity to infuse your personal creativity and craftsmanship into your reading experience. Whether you're a writer looking to hand-bind your manuscripts or an art enthusiast eager to create unique sketchbooks, exploring various bookbinding styles can be a truly rewarding endeavor. So, gather your materials, unleash your imagination, and embark on a journey through the captivating world of bookbinding. Who knows what beautiful and meaningful books you'll create along the way?
Happy Binding!
Laurie & Bex
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.